Why was Jesus critical of the Pharisees?
Question:
Why was Jesus critical of the Pharisees? Provide some examples.
Answer:
Jesus’ relentless and oft times harsh (yet fair and truthful) critique of the Pharisees is most concisely understood by reading Luke 11:37-54. This is a dinner invitation “gone bad” for the Pharisee who invited Jesus to partake in a meal together. Prompted by the catalytic act “that Jesus did not first wash before the meal” (Luke 11:38), Jesus begins His rebuking of the Pharisees in a six-point thesis. Interestingly, we also see how Jesus doesn’t tailor His speech in private as He proclaims this same fundamental message in a public setting in Matthew 23. But perhaps we can begin by looking at the preamble and the “six woes” to understand from Jesus Himself why He was so critical of this group of seemingly pious people.
(Luke 11:39-41) Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.
This is the most common condemnation that Jesus lays upon the Pharisees – hypocrisy. This hypocrisy is rooted in a more nuanced issue as the Pharisees were more concerned with outward appearances. Jesus calls it “foolish” not simply because of the act of hypocrisy itself but also that God Himself is aware of the outside and inside …
Why did Jesus use parables? What are the principles used to interpret parables? Choose a parable and illustrate its meaning.
Question:
Why did Jesus use parables? What are the principles used to interpret parables? Choose a parable and illustrate its meaning.
Answer:
Jesus’ use of parables (or allegorical stories) was an effective way for him to share deep truths in 2 seemingly contradictory ways. Firstly, so that His teachings could be easily understood and remembered. I have found in my profession in Marketing that the most effective presentations are always ones that have a “story” to tell. It can be explicit as one shares an anecdote or it can be in how a presentation/pitch is created to illustrate a business case or value proposition. A good “story” is crafted most effectively when one understands the audience’s mindset, vernacular, and tendencies and then uses this combined knowledge to present a simple and relevant picture to the audience. Jesus does this when He uses parables that took into account His audiences mindset (Jewish), vernacular (Hebrew, Aramaic, agricultural societies often), and tendencies (knowledge of the Scriptures and political sensitivities). Secondly, Jesus used the parable format to sometimes conceal the message (based on His choice timing) due to the hardness of people’s hearts (Matthew 13:10-17), and their potential quick reaction to His message.
When Jesus told His parables, He sometimes made them clear to everyone (Matthew 13:34-35), but at other times, He left a veil of understanding only to be revealed later (Mark 4:10-12). Or Jesus would even tell the parables in such a way that only a select group may understand its meaning (Mark 4:33-34). Simply put, Jesus spoke in parables …
The Truth: Absolute and Unchanging. Infinite and Incarnate.
Key verse(s)/quote(s):
“What was truth to Abraham is truth to us; what was truth to Paul is truth to us; what was truth to the martyrs is truth to us; what is truth to us will be truth to all generations of the world in all lands, and will be truth for ever. This fact, too, is a just foundation for universal praise…” - Albert Barnes
“The truth of the matter is that all truth is absolute — there are no relative truths. If something really is true, then it really is true everywhere and for everyone.” - Norman Geisler
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6
Key takeaway(s):
- The nature of truth is absolute.
- The nature of truth requires a decision.
- We must apply the truth by: Living it, Defending it Without Fear, and Proclaiming it.
Overview:
Among the plethora of topics discussed on this site, Truth remains at the core of all that TiS stands for. The declaration of an absolute, unchanging, infinite and incarnate Truth is what TiS’ sole mission is founded upon (click here for details). Without an accurate and objective understanding of Truth as a philosophical concept, it is impossible to realize the need to seek Truth and understand that it demands exclusivity. For instance, if one were to simply adopt a traditional post-modern view of truth as being relative, one could rest on their laurels as there …
